Tegan and I decided to spend a couple evenings away this week. We went to Victoria for a breath of fresh island air. I have been walking on what seems to be a thin line of feeling super grateful that last year is in the past, but also a bit overwhelmed about moving forward and facing a new year, that will look very different to the last. It's funny how you can feel equally scared to look back, as to walk forward, or even have the courage to stand still and just chew on your thoughts for a while. I think the most important thing is to never allow yourself to sit for too long.

"I wanted the past to go away, I wanted to leave it, like another country; I wanted my life to close, and open like a hinge, like a wing, like the part of the song where it falls down over the rocks: an explosion, a discovery; I wanted to hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know, whoever I was, I wasalivefor a little while. "-Mary Oliver, Dream Work

My absolute favourite song these days that I just can't stop listening to is Willie Nelson - Sunny Side of the Street. Not only is it just a great song, it is all about walking on the sunny side of the street, because even there, the dust looks like gold in the sunlight.

I hope that a new year brings hope and excitement to you all, however your life looks now. I hope you always search for the light, and for the flame - and never settle for thoughts of "well, this is just the way things are" or "I could never do that because I'm too _____ " or "It's too late for that " "I'm too old" "who would care anyway" "I would but I'm scared".

And oh the things we would do, If fear didn't have a home within our bones.

My encouragement to you is to take time out of your day / week and assess your situation, your life, the place that you are at right now. While you do that, also look around, look at the people surrounding you, look away from yourself - realize the things and the people that you love. Search for the things you are passionate about, and make a plan to do those things. Do those things you've been putting on the back burner of your mind, and don't lose the feelings of passion you once had. It is always worth it to find that flame once again, get some twigs, and work on some kindling.